This small batch Chichibu was developed as a collaboration with Japanese craft beer brewer, Shiga Kogen IPA. Shiga Kogen is located about 3 hours north of Chichibu prefecture, in the mountainous Yamanouchi region of Nagano prefecture. 

(Image Source: Gardening Know How, Uisuki)

Ichiro Akuto lent the brewery emptied casks that previously held malt whisky bottled as the Chichibu "The Floor Malted" expression, which they then used to age their Tamamura Honten "The Far East" barrel-aged Imperial IPA beer (13% abv) for several months.

Shiga Kogen's Tamamura Honten "The Far East" Whisky-Seasoned Barrel-Aged Imperial IPA that was created as part of the collaboration with Chichibu. (Image Source: Tamamura Honten)

These beer-seasoned casks were then returned for use by Chichibu Distillery to finish ex-Bourbon matured malt whisky that was distilled between 2010 to 2014, for 1.5-2 years before bottling.

Some back of the envelop estimates put this whisky at approximately 4-5 years old. It was bottled at 57.5% ABV with an outturn of 6,700 bottles.

The collaboration produced two unique spirits - an IPA cask finished malt whisky and a whisky-seasoned barrel-aged IPA beer. 

A wonderful tasting of the Chichibu IPA Cask Finish. (Image Source: @ChrisYeo.Whisky)

On the nose, initial lemon like zestyness. A quick read begins to give me notes of roses, maybe old dried rose.

A delicate scent of dried rose petals on the nose. (Image Source: HerbCo)

I also receive some hops with malty notes.

Hops - the key ingredient for beer making. The IPA certainly has left a distinctive impression on this Chichibu. (Image Source: Healthline)

With water, the aromatic perfume intensifies with more prevalence.

On the palate, the strong ABV numbs the palate for a moment.

An oily texture on the palate. (Image Source: The Kitchen Community)

The taste brings some oiliness, with the hops somehow leading me to an aromatic rose character.

An aromatic rose water follows from the nose to the finish. (Image Source: Medical News Today)

With water, more sweetness prevails, while the numbness lessens noticeably.

Sweet malt mingles with hopes and rose perfumery on the finish. (Image Source: Cookido)

The finish. Medium long, with lingering sweet malt and hops, and yet again a very light and delicate rose aroma.

Penned by Chris Yeo (Instagram: @ChrisYeo.Whisky)